“A manilla, a form of currency, from around the 9th century, found at Igbo Ukwu”. On display at the British Museum.
The manilla was a form of currency widely used in West Africa, including Igboland, particularly during the pre-colonial and early colonial periods.
Manillas are bracelet-shaped pieces of copper or bronze, often described as “money bracelets,” and they were an important medium of exchange in the region.
Manillas played a significant role in the economic and social life of the Igbo people. Their use as currency and in cultural exchanges reflected the dynamic nature of trade and wealth accumulation in Igboland before the full integration of Western monetary systems.
